"I signed here to play, not to come and collect my wages as people have stated." Coventry City's Marcus Tudgay

3 January 2015

Matt Joyce

The Sky Blues striker also says he turned down a loan move to fight for his place at the club...

Coventry City striker Marcus Tudgay says he never lost the belief in his ability as he returned to the team and netted the clinching goal in the Sky Blues' 2-0 victory over Walsall.

Tudgay missed a penalty earlier in the game but netted the crucial second as he lead the line in his first appearance since coming off the bench against Worcester in November.

The 31-year-old says his attitude has always been positive despite eleven appearances so far this campaign and after talk of a loan move, but is eager to build on his display today.

"I know I can score goals and I don't need to prove that to anyone," Tudgay said.

"I signed here to play, not to come and collect my wages as people have stated, that is last thing I would ever do.

"I could've gone out on loan but I said to the manager I want to fight for my place. That's what I've done and I've trained just as hard in training whether I'm playing or not, injuries happen and they've happened today so I've managed 90 minutes and I want to keep playing.

"My situation can happen obviously, it's happened to me now but I know what I can do.

"The opening seven games I didn't get a goal, then a loanee comes in and another then the next thing you know you fall down the pecking order. But I want to build on this and keep my place, I'm here to play."

Tudgay was an influential part of the Sky Blues' win at the Banks's Stadium, but was keen to praise others including Jim O'Brien and the defence which kept up the record of only four goals conceded in the last eight League One games.

The striker has also urged his team-mates to build on their performance ahead of the Swindon clash next Monday.

Tudgay said: "As a team the result is massive today. Jim's goal was brilliant, sometimes we tell him you're doing too much but that's justJim he wears his heart on his sleeve and he'd run through a brick wall, he was excellent.

"But we've got plenty of quality who all did well today. It was a very young back four which gives the manager food for thought and my opinion is don't change it if it's not broken - but we'll have to see!

"It's massively important that we take this into the Swindon game. The young back-line were excellent, my own performance gives the manager options, but either way we haven't got sulkers here. The gaffer does his homework on players and we've got to keep going, keep believing and keep climbing the table."